July 5/Brussels/Reuters -- Natural sweeteners derived from the stevia plant could be authorized for EU-wide use by the end of the year, after governments approved their sale in certain foodstuffs, the European Union's executive said on Tuesday.
Concern over rising levels of obesity and diabetes has spurred the development of new sweeteners, and food consultancy Zenith International expects the global market for stevia-derived products to reach $825 million by 2014.